Well gang GM still only want to go with replacing ther cam & lifters.

My shop droped the oil pan to day and found grit on the bottom and the oil pump scored. Below is the next email I got from them.

Paul,
we opened the oil filter and found metal debris. We looked at one
main and one rod bearing. Both are clean and un-damaged.
Conclusion; The metal from the cam fell into the oil pan. Heavy stuff
sank to the bottom, small stuff went through the oil pump, damaging
it and got trapped in the filter. from the filter the oil goes to the
center main bearing first and that bearing appears OK meaning
there are no readily apparent scratches in the bearing material.

Ok my trusted group lets hear your thoughts.

PS we are still waiting for the cam. We also told the dealer about the oil pimp and that we want a new one, maybe someone will finaly relaize it will be cheeper to get a new engine then replace things.

Paul

 

ehhh, i'd be wary of the bearings now, but if everything looked fine, then you might of gotten lucky

 

I would tell them you can no longer be without the car and you are going Monday to get a rental car and will be sending them the bill until the motor situation is resovled- or they can simply ship another replacement new crate motor ASAP and you can have the car together by Wed. or Thurday

 

You want to speak to the regional representative about this situation.
You get his name by making an appointment with the President of the dealership from where came this engine.
Better be prepared to offer names, photos, bills, dates & times & notes of conversations.
IF the "head mechanic" of the shop can come, who has been chiping in the labor, so much the better.
Make an appointment, do not settle for a conversation.
Reason,
The head of the Parts Dept may also be able to join or the head of the repair shop may also be then able to join.
TRY to arrange by phone perhaps the regional manager to listen in.

If no satisfaction outta this meeting, simply state you now want a full refund of the money spent to buy this engine.
Then walk out, simply saying we'll be meeting again.
IF not satisfaction outta that last statement, then prepare to sue the dealership in court. Still asking for the amount spent on the engine and if any "extra labor" be prepared to document it and prove the "labors worth". having person who did teh labor is a good voice also in court. Pictures, too. Or parts......

Sorry to hear of the stupidity of the dealership who mearly sends this back to the plant for a
re-tag & rebuild.
Piecemeal "repairs is not the true answer".

 

This information is from my 1998 GM Perf Parts Book & coyrighted 1997.
This is good news/bad news...
Bad news first
Part Number 12363230
HT3.4
(the copy is as follows)
Tired of that tired 2.8 in your S-Series truck? It's time for a major upgrade, GM Perf Parts style. The HT 3.4 is a bolt in replacement for the 2.8 V6 in your 1982-85 S-10 Blazer or Pickup. And it's emission legal in 49 states.

I wrote that for a very important bad news reason.

Good news time & mixed also with bad news.

Warranty GM Perf parts
Due to the nature and intended usage of GM performance parts in this catalog (I pulled the above copy from said publication), except for engines and partial engines, are sold without any express or implied warranty of mechanability or fitness for a particluar purpose. The entire risk as to the performance of such parts is with the buyer. Should such parts prove defective following their purchase, the buyer and not the manufacturer, distributor or retailer, assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair, damage or loss to property and consequential damage.
That was the good part!
Bad part mixed with good

Engine & partial Engine Warranty
under the provisions of the GM Dealer Service Parts & Accessory warranty, engine & partial engines, including partial engines in kits, are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship (that was good part).
(Bad) This warranty specifically excludes engines and partial engines used in racing (you didn't do this) or competition (you didn't do this) or that fail due to alteration (you did this). These engines & partial engines are not designed or approved by GM for marine use.

I started by saying this engine was designed by GM for replacing the 2.8 in a S-Series vehicle.
It was NOT stated for use in a TVR. You altered the original intended designed end usage. You "voided the offered warranty".
Your last resort IF you do not get good meetings with these people is to sue and let the judge make the final decision.

I wrote & dealt with legal lines in ads or publications.
ESPECIALLY Honda ATC's & ATV lawsuits, was one of my specalities.
That's how I read your situation.
UNLESS you got IN WRITING that this engine warranted for usage in other vehicles not determined by GM end usage, you're getting the "best cooperation" expected from the dealership minus a lawsuit in small claims court.
Verbal statements "Tend to be altered real quick". Hope whatever you get is in writing.
Anyone else want to argue this point, please do so.
I'm giving ya pretty damn close to the top legal advice you may get, that's on your side!
AND since this copy was copyrighted in 1997, I seriously doubt anything has changed. Best defense is to get the latest GM Perf Parts catalog, seeing IF this engine is still offered and the same copy published in the catalog & see what changes to legal copy has been made.
I truly doubt any change.......
Keep fighting cause what being offered may be best ya may be able to get. And fight, piece by piece.

 

Well the good part is that GM was paying for the parts, cam, lifters,and the LABOR!!!!!. The even agreed to have the shop that is putting in the engine do the work, not the dealer. At times I worried that GM will say OK we will give you a new engine BUT we want to take a look at it and send someone to look at it, not the dealer, then someone comes down and says woooooo, this engine is hoped up a little and what kind of car is this, we won't give you a new engine let alone give you a new cam, lifters, gasket oil pump. Also anyone looking at that car will know that it is not my ever day driver, so go an take the request for payment on a rental and put it where the sun don’t shine. Everyone get what I am saying. I have had people who are shocked the GM is paying for the labor. So there is my good / bad, I have something but could possible lose it??

Paul

 

I only expressed what I was reading.
SO FAR you are getting cooperation and the parts necessary to rebuild & repair the damage.
As long as the cooperation continues, this will be settled way quicker than anything getting nasty between teh two parties.
Honestly, I am now wondering what GM did about this camshaft issue that happened back in the 70's? Lots of GM cams were worn out prematurly and I forget how that was settled. IF complete engine replacement or as your example, piece by piece & the labor also.
In a way you are getting an engine blueprinting job....

 

once it's all settled, send GM a thankyou letter and also let them know that you're going let others know on how good they handled this situation.

 

Karl

I know you said what you were reading, I have seen the same thing, I even saw that if the engine was in anything other then what it should be there would be no warranty.
But get this the lifters got to the dealer, but we are still waiting for the cam. The dealer is letting GM know of the finding of the grit in the bottom of the oil pan and the scored oil pump. I also guess that GM letting the shop do the replacement and not the dealer as a big concession on GMs Part ??

Paul

 

3.4 production RWD left their easy acccess hands in 1995.
3.4 is now outta production. That engine making space taken up by new World Class V6 3.5s for Caddy.
GM is making more money off their repair facilities space than could ever be made repairing the engine.
To me, you're doing great.
You've got communication going & continuing and some "true" support.
Wish I had easy access to a spare 3.4 oil pan I have, I'd send it your way.
Ask if you can compromise by using the 3.4 cam from over the parts counter? Perhaps that part number is easier to locate.
If ya had a part number I could help.
In end, you're not doing to bad at all.
I'd still say ya gotta pull the engine to flush out the whole oil system.
I'm sure your repair facility has said that the engine "can" be saved, but labor wise it's costing more.....
Part of the reason GM is in trouble.
Keep at it, not doing to bad at all.

 

I would still be uneasy though without checking ALL the bearings....you never know..... I hope the block and assembly gets cleaned up good before the pan goes back on...you wanna get as much metal out of there as possible. I had metal going through my engine, from pushrod failure, and it ended up in places I didnt think possible. Had a single cylinder failure...dead miss, low compression near 100% leakdown.... Multiple other cylinders were scored badly....this was on a BRAND NEW crate motor, and caused ONLY by metal shavings that went through the oil for about 10,000 miles. Failed subsequently about 5,000 miles later.

Ya get what ya pay for. Half assed inspection = half assed engine. IMO.

 

Karl

In an earlier post you asked about the cam part number. well
from the 3.4 Engine Package Spec. listing, they list
Part # 12363220,
Hydraulic flat Tappet.

Lift .427" I / .454" E
Duration 204 I ? 216 E @ .050 lift.

They have the lifters but
The cam has been back ordered since 6/16.


Dealer has again contacted his contact for help to bet new engine.

Paul

 

Crane makes that cam for GM. It is the same as the one on CraneCams website.

 

That is very correct.
Crane made the valvetrain stuff for the 3.4 upgrade.
Crane #2020 isn't it?
Have some fun
Ask them, next time ya see them......
"How difficult is it to get that other 3.4 crate engine that's available"?
Then find out "how long for that cam"?
See what happens!
PS tell them you'll have the old 3.4 there in 20 minutes to help seal the deal of bad engine returned for warranty!
See what happens!
Good luck!
You have been a very good customer to them.